- Brief History of RBI
- Royal Commission on Indian Currency, 1926 (Hilton Young Commission) recommended establishment of RBI, which was reiterated by Indian Central Banking Enquiry Committee, 1931.
- RBI was established in 1935, under Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 with Sir Osborne Smith as its first Governor.
- It was nationalised in 1949.
- Organisational Structure
- Governed by a Central Board of Directors headed by Governor and four Deputy-Governors, appointed by Central Government.
- Governor and Deputy Governor shall hold office for such term not exceeding five years as Central Government may fix when appointing them, and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
- Functions of RBI
- Monetary Authority to formulate, implement and monitor monetary policy to maintain price stability.
- Regulator and supervisor of financial system to maintain public confidence.
- Issuer of currency to supply currency notes and coins.
- Regulator and Supervisor of Payment and Settlement Systems.
- Banker to Government and Banks.
- Key Achievements
- Gross Non-Performing Assets of public sector banks reduced to 3% (2023) from 11.25% (2018).
- Size of RBI's balance sheet stands around Rs 63 lakh crore (2023).
- Foreign exchange Reserve of bank currently stands around $642 Billion.